Charity

Christopher Benson has had a mixed career; firstly at sea aged 16 in both Merchant and Royal Navies. He played Rugby for the Royal Navy (Scotland) later for Salisbury and was a Worcestershire County Swimming Champion.

Following a near fatal car accident in 1953 he was “retired” from the Royal Navy and became an Agricultural Auctioneer and Valuer, settling in Salisbury in 1957 and marrying the then Councillor Jo Bundy, later Mayor of Salisbury and OBE, JP in 1960.

In 1965 he embarked on a new career in Commercial Property and Finance worldwide. He was, inter alia, Managing Director and later Chairman of MEPC plc (then the largest UK-based internationally operating property investment and management company), The Boots Company, Sun Alliance and London Insurance, Royal and Sun Alliance Insurance, Costain, Albright & Wilson, Reedpack, London Dockland Development Corporation, The Housing Corporation, The Funding Agency for Schools, Cross London Rail Links (Crossrail) and others.

He was Principal of the Inns of Court School of Law, High Sheriff of Wiltshire, is a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London, and is Patron or President of a number of National Charities relating to Youth, Education and Medical and Deaf Children’s Charities.

He holds Honorary Degrees from London City and Bradford Universities, is an Honorary Bencher of Middle Temple, an Honorary Fellow of Wolfson College Cambridge, Southampton University, The Royal College of Pathologists , The Chartered Institute of Building and Salisbury Rotary Club.

He is a qualified Fixed and Rotary Wing Air Pilot and has flown a Spitfire (under supervision)!

Air Commodore Suraya Marshall grew up in York, graduating from the University of Nottingham with a Law degree and becoming a member of East Midlands University Air Squadron before joining the Royal Air Force as a Navigator in 1994.  During 3 tours flying on the Tornado F3, she participated in numerous operational deployments in Iraq, conducted Quick Reaction Alert in defence of the UK and the Falkland Islands, qualified as a Weapons Instructor and deployed on many overseas, multi-national training exercises.

Command appointments include Fast Jet Weapons System Officer Training, Officer Commanding No. 92(R) Squadron in the Air Warfare Centre responsible for operational Tactics & Training, Officer Commanding No. 55(R) Squadron delivering Rear Crew Flying Training and Deputy Commander of the Royal Air Force’s Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Force. She assumed command of Royal Air Force College Cranwell in December 2019.

In operational command and control, she has worked with coalition partners in the Middle East Combined Air Operations Centre, where she was involved in the design and execution for the second Gulf War in 2003 and then in 2019 as the Director of Coalition Air Operations in Iraq, Syria, the Arabian Gulf, Afghanistan, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

Staff appointments include 3 years working in defence procurement, time in the Typhoon Force Headquarters delivering training transformation and defence sales, and 5 years spent working in the joint strategic environment, initially in the Operations Directorate of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and latterly as Military Assistant to the Vice Chief of Defence Staff.  A graduate of Advanced Command and Staff Course (2009) and Higher Command and Staff Course (2019), she holds a Masters in Defence Studies.

Suraya is married to Air Vice-Marshal Al Marshall OBE, a former Harrier and Sentinel pilot, who is currently the Head of Defence Commitments and Crisis in the Ministry of Defence. They have two teenage children and in between work and school, the family enjoys spending as much time as possible together, travelling overseas and trying most outdoor activities, especially skiing, hiking, cycling and diving.

Chris came to Salisbury in 1985 as Assistant Land Agent for the Longford Estates, before taking over as sole Agent in 1990, a post he held for 25 years. He joined Salisbury Rugby Club in the very same year he arrived in the city and has been a member ever since as a player, minis and juniors coach, team manager and general admin. From 2011-2015 he held the position of President.

As part of recent fundraising efforts at the Rugby Club, Chris organised showings of the Secret Spitfires film. This inspired the idea of building a memorial not only to the pilots but to everyone involved in building the Spitfires secretly in Salisbury during WWII, and he is now spearheading the project.

Chris lives in Alderbury with wife Lindsey and spends his free time enjoying regular walking sessions with The Old Rumblers, volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Men’s Group at SRFC, attending the Old Men’s Pilates Group at Pure Health and Fitness, propping up his very own home bar and looking after the grandchildren.

Stephen came to Salisbury in 1989 after a career in the City, and became a partner at Wilsons Solicitors in that year. He specialises in company and commercial work but also advises many charities and is a trustee of the Chalke Valley History Trust, which owns the Chalke Valley History Festival. He first became aware of the Secret Spitfire story when advising the director Ethem Cetintas on the making of his movie of the same name.   

Stephen lives in Broad Chalke and when not at Wilsons spends his time painting, golfing, playing real tennis and running, while he still can. To prove an eccentric streak, he is also the owner of a carefully curated collection of ethnic brushes from all over the world, regularly added to by indulgent friends.

Josh has been a Salisbury resident his whole life, having been educated at Bishop Wordsworth School. He has recently become a Chartered Tax Adviser, having completed all of his exams.

Outside of work, Josh is a keen rugby player and has been since the age of six. He has risen through the age groups at Salisbury RFC and has been the current 1^st XV captain since 2016. Away from the pitch Josh is a keen traveller and has followed England’s cricket team to both South Africa and Australia with his finacee Zita.

Josh has also assisted Chris and played an active role in the Project All Change fundraising at Salisbury RFC. This is on top of running 10 marathons in 10 days for the RFU injured players foundation in 2014.